LOOP City is a master plan for the suburbs of Copenhagen, Denmark centered around an expansive new
light rail system that instead of just being a way for people to get around, will actually act as a catalyst to develop the surrounding communities. Conceived by
BIG Architects, the transportation loop will feature an undulating rail line with peaks at each station. In addition to acting as "an artery of true urbanity, pumping life into the heart of the suburbs," the project will also incorporate strategies for energy efficiency, waste management, and water treatment.
At the moment, the industrial zones of Copenhagen’s suburbs are next in line for urban development. BIG‘s vision calls for a new light rail loop that will connect the 20 development zones within a total area of 11km2. Instead of just providing transportation for the area, the loop will harbor development for the cross border region, allowing different programs to grow around the new stations. ”At certain points the rail becomes a building itself almost like a Roman aqueduct passing through the suburbs,” says BIG of the project. “At other points it forms small pockets of urbanity around the stations.”
In addition to connecting the areas around the Øresund Strait, Loop City would serve as a sustainable spine, implementing not just emission-reducing public transport, but also energy exchange, waste management, water treatment and electric car infrastructure. And BIG’s plan goes much further than just hashing out the details of the metro loop itself. It also defines the new development areas, with specific zones such as the Food Strip, the Industrial Leisure Park, the River Delta and the Urban Pocket.
+ BIG
You really should try and provide larger images that are legible.
Light rail and streetcars? This video (while mainly about urban planning) focuses a lot on light rail and streetcar development. It does show how rail does fairly little to revitalize areas.
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx-jx2jr2KU
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=barNYxg_84c
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhXoJlmQqjE
The next video showcases the effects of government involvement by passing lucrative subsidies on development and the consequences of political bias.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDjLJY6q6yY
You can read all the text on the slides posted here via this link http://www.big.dk/projects/loop/ . . . BIG